Cops: Sussex County Bomber's Other Skill - Magic Mushrooms

By FRED J. AUN

February 20, 2019 at 3:36 PM

Content Options

Psilocybe mushroomsPsilocybe mushrooms Credits: Otto - The Shroomery

By FRED J. AUN

February 20, 2019 at 3:36 PM

ROXBURY, NJ – When police searched the Port Morris home of a man accused earlier this month of detonating a homemade bomb in Sussex County they discovered a hallucinogenic mushroom growing operation protected by cameras and filled with strategically placed weapons, according to court records.

The search indicated the residence was being used by Faschan to grow hallucinogenic mushrooms, Gaboda said in the affidavit. He said “psilocybe mushrooms … were located in the living room area of the residence in a converted fish tank,” noting that “each plant was in a mason jar under a homemade growing lamp.”

Detectives found “multiple composition notebooks” in the home “which contained handwritten notes on how to grow and or manufacture” the psychedelic mushrooms.

“The residence maintained a surveillance system,” said Gaboda in his statement. But cameras were not Faschan’s only means of warding off outsiders, according to the detective. He said police found “accessible” weapons scattered throughout the house.

In the affidavit, Gaboda told Roxbury Municipal Court Judge Ira Cohen that police came across a slew of weapons, explosives and other illegal items in the house including:

A grenade launcher

Thirteen M-Class pyrotechnic devices (fireworks such as M-80s or M-100s)

Four pyrotechnic shot shells modified to fit the grenade launcher

One improvised explosive device (IED) with “BB fragmentation”

One IED with “several cans of lighter fluid attached”

A TASER stun gun

A 12-gauge shotgun

A .22-caliber handgun

A .22-caliber rifle

Additional handguns with hollow-point bullets and extended magazines

Body armor

Handcuffs

Dimethyltryptamine, (DMT) a powerful hallucinogen

71 grams of psilocybe mushrooms

“Faschan did not possess a valid New Jersey firearms identification card to legally own or possess firearms,” Gaboda noted in the statement. He said the home was clearly being used as for magic mushroom production.

“Based on my training and experience, the method, layout and system employed by the suspect in the growing of the mushrooms is consistent with an individual maintaining a manufacturing facility for the distribution of psilocybe mushrooms,” wrote Gaboda.

The search of the Port Morris house resulted in many charges being filed against Faschan, who is being held in the Sussex County jail.

One alleges he “did fortify or maintain in a fortified condition a structure” to make and distribute the illegal mushrooms “specifically by utilizing surveillance systems and maintaining weapons easily accessible in various rooms.”

TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey Department of Health officials have warned that passengers that traveled through Newark Airport between March 4 at 9:00 p.m. and March 5 at 9:30 a.m. may have been exposed to measles and could develop symptoms as late as March 26.

According to the health alert issued on Monday, the carrier of the highly contagious disease arrived in Terminal C at Newark Liberty ...

TRENTON, NJ - New Jersey Department of Health officials have warned that passengers that traveled ...

NEWTON, NJ—Despite the snowflakes throughout the morning set up of the parade, the sun finally came out just in time to start the parade. Residents from Newton, Sparta, Andover, Green, and all over Sussex County gathered on Spring Street, dressed in green for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This year was Sussex County’s 16th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and had over 1,050 people ...

NEWTON, NJ—Despite the snowflakes throughout the morning set up of the parade, the sun finally came ...

NEWTON, NJ—The Newton Board of Education meeting turned emotional as budget cuts were announced. Board and community discussion caused the first budget vote to be defeated. The preliminary budget meeting on March 12 was to allow the district to submit the anticipated tax levy to the executive county office.

Some board members wanted a commitment from Superintendent Dr. Kennedy Green and ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Meg Sleeper, of Frenchtown, N.J., was appointed to the Endurance Sport Committee (ESC) by US Equestrian (USEF).

Areas of focus for the ESC include clearly defining pathways for athletes within the sport, growing the sport of endurance within the U.S., and building a strong base at the national level for endurance athletes to expand into international levels of ...

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Meg Sleeper, of Frenchtown, N.J., was appointed to the Endurance Sport Committee ...

SPARTA, NJ – There is a display of works by local artists on display at the Sparta Library. Pieces created by students from Mohawk Avenue School and Helen Morgan School can be seen throughout the building.

On March 14 the library held a reception to honor the young artists. Youth Services Librarian Meaghan Darling organized the event for more than 85 friends and family of the honorees as ...

SPARTA, NJ – There is a display of works by local artists on display at the Sparta Library. Pieces ...

SPARTA, NJ – Only one minor injury was reported in a four car accident but the driver that caused it is facing charges. On March 15 around 2:30 p.m. Officer Jonathan Poon was called to the scene of the accident at the intersection of White Lake Road and Route 15, police report.

NEWTON, NJ - A mother’s pain has turned an unfortunate tragedy into a message that everyone should learn and never forget. On June 14, 2017, Mallory Grossman took her own life due to extreme bullying. Her mother Diane Grossman has been on a mission ever since.

She came to Halsted Middle School on March 12 to share Mallory’s story and the messages of kindness and ...

It's a Bracelet Kind of Life

NEWTON, NJ - A mother’s pain has turned an unfortunate tragedy into ...

SPARTA, NJ – A Harrison woman stopped for traffic infractions got herself into additional trouble when she gave a false name and birthdate to the officer. On March 9 around 10:30 a.m. Officer Michael Poon stopped a black Honda Civic on Route 15, police said.

The driver was stopped for having a cracked windshield, expired inspection sticker and because none of the four people in the car were ...

NEWTON, NJ—The Weekend Bag Program created by Newton High School junior Isobel Costello, has partnered with Sojihuggles.

The mission of the group with the funny name, according to their website is to “provide underprivileged children with basic necessities so they may grow and take advantage of opportunities, allowing them to thrive, experience purpose in life, and contribute to society in ...

NEWTON, NJ—The Weekend Bag Program created by Newton High School junior Isobel Costello, has ...